Necktie-stretcher



F. F. METCALF.

NECKTIE STRETCHER.

APPLICATION ruin JULY 19.1919.

1,346,552. Pate t d July 13, 1920.

11v VENTOR."

y fied'fmaji rnnnr. METCALF, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

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To all whom it may concern: I 7

Be it known that I, F RED F. Mn rcAnr, acitizen of the United States, residlng at 3; Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Necktie-Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

'Ihisinvention relates to an improvement inthat class of neck-tie stretcher-s consisting of an expansibleyframe formed of wire and adapted to be inserted in the larger end of what is known as the four-in-hand tie for the purpose of eradicating wrinkles therefrom caused by use of the tie. The objects and advantages of the invention together with the novel features thereof will hereinafter appear and be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawing, in which I have illustrated my invention in front elevation, it will be seen that the same is formed of a single piece of resilient or spring-wire of suitable length and gage, bent at its middle to form preferably a coil 1, from which diverge upwardly a pair of opposite corresponding and preferably slightly outwardly curved resilient terminals 2.

At a suitable distance from the eye or coil 1, each of these terminals 2, maybe coiled as at3, these latter coils preferably being somewhat smaller than the coil 1. Beyond the coils 3, the terminals 2 aredisposed or bent substantially at right-angles to the remainder of theterminals or toward each other so as to form overlapping transverse ends 4, which pass by one another and are maintained in freely slidable connection by some suitable means, in this instance, a light sheet-metal sleeve 5, centrally located with relation to the device and beyond the ends of which the bent terminals 41: extend. I I

prefer to form at the end of each of the transversely disposed portions 4, right-anwill be seen, the eye of one terminal is disposed in a direction opposite to that of the eye of the companion-terminal. These eyes, it will be seen, in addition to forming a slidable connection between the transverse portions of the two terminals, also constitute stops by abutting against the ends of the sleeve 5, so that the possibility of an entire separation of the terminals 2 is a avoided.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 13,1920.

"Application filedJ'uly 19, 1919. Serial No.-811,993.

For convenience I may provide the sleeve 5 with a rlng or eye 7, for the purpose of affording a meansof suspension.

Thetendency of the terminals 2, are to expand or spread apart, and in use the smaller end (the coil 1) is inserted in the open larger end of the fourin-hand tie, the device being pushed into the tie, during which operation the spring terminals 2 will duly yield 'and conform to the contour of the .tie. If the tie, which has become wrinkled from use,-especially if slightly'dampened is permitted to remain upon the stretcher, all wrinkles will have become eradicated, and when the stretcher is removed the tie will lie flat and smooth as when new and show no effects of previous wear. During the time the stretcher is in position in the tie the latter-will be constantly and lightly stretched owing to the tendency of the device to expand, so that the material of the tie will be constantly under yielding tension.

It will be obvious that there may be substituted for the sleeve 5, and suspensioneye 7 thereof, other convenient means for serving the same functions, or that these parts may be entirely omitted, in which case the eyes 6 alone would bedepended upon to form the sliding connection and stops between the terminals 4. Also that where the sleeve 5 is employed the ends of the terminals 4 may be otherwise formed to constitute stops or they may be left plain. I

prefer however to employ the eyes 6 for the purposes mentioned and also for the reason that they prevent any likelihood of the ends of the stretcher engagin with and injuring the fabric of the tie. for the same reason and also because they lend greater resiliency I also prefer to employ the coils 1 and 3, rather than mere bends.

. It is obvious that while the stretcher herein shown anddescribed is especially adapted forv neck-ties,.yet by employing a pair of the same and modifying the proportions herein shown, said device is applicable to trousers for the purpose of straightening out the legs and eliminating the wrinkles sult of wear. I do not therefore wish to be use to neck-ties, but hold that I may modify the proportions of the same for use as a understood as limiting my invention in its and knees which form therein as a re- Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. A stretcher for the purpose described, the same being formed of a single length oi spring-wire bent at an intermediate point to form a coiled. eye and a reduced enteringend upwardly disposed beyond said eye to form opposite diverging companion terminals, the latter at corresponding points being bent to form corresponding coils and beyond them inwardly laterally disposed overlapping portions terminating in oppositely disposed eyes, the eye of one of said portions receiving the laterally disposed portion of the companion terminal, whereby a freely slidable connection between said overlapping portions is formed, and a sleeve loosely receiving said overlapping portions of the terminals and in which the latter are freely slidable, said sleeve being provided with a suspension-eye and being positioned between the eyes of the overlapping portions of the terminals and forming abutments therefor.

2. A stretcher for the purpose described, the same being formed of a single length of spring-Wire bent at an intermediate point to form a reduced entering-end and beyond said point upwardly disposed to form oppo' site diverging companion terminals yieldingly expanding toward their upper ends, said terminals being bent at corresponding distances from said entering-end to form companion inwardly disposed transverse overlapping portions the end of each of which is bent to form an eye loosely receiving the opposite companion portion, and a sleeve mounted upon and receiving said portions between the eyes and in which said portions are loosely and freely slidable, the ends of the sleeve serving as abutments for the eyes of said portions.

FRED F. METGALF. 

